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Monday, June 4, 2012

Plan supporter makes history

Posted by Allison Costa, Plan USA's Social Media Specialist

Plan supporter Nishat Mazumder has made history by becoming the first Bangladeshi woman to reach the top of Mount Everest. Flying the flag for Plan’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign, the 31-year-old accountant reached the summit of the 8,848 meter peak on 19th May.

Although an experienced mountaineer, the climb up Everest was Nishat’s biggest challenge to date. She had to train hard for the expedition and says that dedicating it to Plan’s girls campaign seemed like an obvious choice. “Taking on this challenge as a woman, I realized just how important it is for girls to be empowered. Plan’s Because I am a Girl campaign is all about having a voice and being strong, so I wanted to do this to show girls around the world that nothing is impossible."

She was joined on the climb by fellow Bangladeshi mountaineer MA Mohit – also making history as the first Bangladeshi to scale Everest twice, having completed his first ascent a year ago.

The journey began on 9 April and favorable weather conditions helped the two climbers reach Base Camp less than a week later. On 20th April they started their first climb to Camp 1 (of four) and back to Base Camp - part of the acclimatisation routine climbers must go through before they make for the top. A month later they were on the way back down from the summit.

"Many congratulations to Nishat. I am delighted that she has done this for Plan’s campaign,” says Deepali Sood, Director of our Because I am a Girl campaign.